4 
THE CHEMIST AND DEUGGIST OF AUSTEALASIA. Jan. 1st, 1886. 
“ We still send them out wrapped in the reading matter.” If 
it was no breach of faith why send them out at all ? If not con- 
trary, at least to the spirit in which the contract had been 
understood for nearly seven years, why the need to look 
through the correspondence ? 
We have emphatic testimony, however, from the honorary 
secretary himself, that in 1879 he considered the society bound 
to circulate the advertisements. On January 27 of that year, a 
chemist living in a suburb of Melbourne asked us to supply 
“ The Chemist and Druggist ” to him direct, and gave the fol- 
lowing reason: — “ The Society here, I believe, are the agents 
now, and, to save postage or for some other excuse, they takeout 
the advertisements. This I wish to avoid.” The reply to 
this from the honorary secretary was “ with reference to your 
remarks about the advertisements being taken out, this is not 
true, all the advertisements are sent out with the journal, and 
in most cases they are not sent out loose, but bound together.’’ 
The Contract Terminated. 
Notice to terminate the contract at the end of the year 1885 
was sent to us on October 16, 1884. About June, 1885, 
specimen copies of The AuHtmlanian Journal of Pharmacy 
were widely distributed, accompanied by a circular, one para- 
graph of which is misquoted in the statement of the Society. 
As there printed it reads, ‘ “ The Australasian Chemist and 
Druggist,’ which for some years past has been issued to the 
members of the Society, will in December next be incoriiorated 
with the ‘Australasian Journal of Pharmacy.’ As actually 
iisued (a copy of the circular is now before us) it reads — “ ‘ The 
Australasian Chemist and Druggist’ which for some years 
past has been issued to the Members of the Society will he dis- 
continued in December next, and will he succeeded by ‘The 
Australasicp Journal of Pharmacy.’ ” The reason for the mis- 
quotation is best known to the writer of the statement. 
Our Proceedings. 
In 1881 w’e had let it be understood that w^e should establish 
a journal in Australia if our contract with the Victorian 
Society was terminated. We announced in September of this 
year, our intention to publish a journal in Australasia, in tele- 
grams ^ to the Pharmaceutical Society of Australasia and of 
New^ South Wales, and in circulars addressed to every phar- 
macist in Australasia. On our arrival in Melbourne we called 
on the President of the Society, the honorary secretarv, and 
others, and we made an offer to the Council to take over all 
responsibilities of the journal, to give the Society full control 
over all reports of its proceedings, and to pay all expenses 
incurred. Our request for information, to allow us to make 
our offer more definite, w^as politely refused. Our proposition 
was declined. 
It was made in a friendly and conciliatory spirit, and 
was fully explained in that spirit to the honorary secretary. 
If the statement piiblished by the Society gives a fair account 
of the spirit in which it was understood by the Council, -we 
are not surprised that our offer w^as not accepted. That state- 
ment by no means represents our attitude in the matter. 
AVe Avere informed that the Society considered its right in 
the title, “ The Australasian Chemist and Druggist” could be 
protected by law. AVe publicly announced our intention to 
publish our journal _ under the title, “The Chemist and 
Druggist of Australasia, ’ to which we belieA’e we alone have 
right. To avoid the bitter feeling generally caused by hostile 
legal action, we proposed to the President of the Society, AA"m. 
Bowen, Esq., J.P., that the question should be discussed by 
solicitors representing the Society and ourselves ; that in case 
they failed to agree the question should be referred for deci- 
sion to a leading barrister ; and that his verdict should be 
binding on both parties. This Avas declined, but in the 
friendly siiirit that has characterised the treatment AAdiich Ave 
have received throughout. 
As this long, and Ave fear Avearisome, recital has shoAvn, Ave 
have done wliat Ave can to avoid contests of all kinds. AA^e 
have documentary evidence to substantiate every statement 
AA’e haA’e made, and as Avillbe seen by our publishing the opjio- 
site side of the question we do not fear the verdict either of 
the laAv courts or the public. 
A movement has been on foot for some time for the estab- 
lishment of a Temperance Hospital in Melbourne. Much 
difficulty has been met Avith in obtaining a suitable site, and at 
a meeting held on December 9, Dr. Bose, AI.L.A. in the chair, 
it Avas decided to establish a Temperance dispensary at once! 
The project of the establishment of a Temperance Hospital is 
not to be lost sight of, even for a time. 
>§;tuL)cnfs’ Corner. 
AA’^e propose to devote part of our space monthly to students 
in the ranks of pharmacy. 
Their position is not altogether an easy one. Too often 
isolated, and Avithout the stimulus of intercourse Avith others 
engaged in the same occupation and studies, they find them- 
selves baffled by difficulties that are easily surmounted Avith a 
little help, and are tempted to Avaste time that could be profit- 
ably and pleasurably spent in preparation for the enforced 
curriculum. 
For many years the “ Student’s Corner ” has been a much 
appreciated feature in The Chemist and Druggist. 
The competitions have been open to all, and some continental 
students have engaged in them, but the great distances have 
prevented the entrance of colonial competitors. Although this 
matter has engaged our attention, Ave have been unable, to our 
regret, so to arrange the regulations as to do away Avith this 
difficulty. AA^e noAv bring the “ Students’ Corner ” to the very 
doors of our Australasian supporters, and Ave trust that many 
students will avail themselves of the advantages it offers. 
For the present, the comx)etition Avill consist of Avritten 
exercises. 
Questions will be set each month relating to chemistry, 
botany, and materia medica. Beplies must be Avritten on one 
side of the paper only. Each sheet should bear some noni de 
plume or motto, and an envelope bearing the same legend, 
and containing the competitors’ real name and address, should 
accompany it. 
Beplies must reach this office not later than February 15. 
This long interval is fixed to give students in the more distant 
districts a chance of competing. 
All papers AA'ill be examined by some competent authority, 
and the result Avill be jiublished in our March number. The 
names of the successful candidates Avill be published, and the 
mottoes or noms de plume of the others, in order of merit. 
The prizes, to consist of books, published at about the value 
of 10s. for the first, and 6s. for the second, Avill then be 
forAvarded to the Avinners as soon as their choice can be ascer- 
tained. 
QUESTIONS. 
1. Describe Avhat occurs when zinc is treated wdth dilute 
sulphuric acid ? Give an equation illustrating the reaction 
and calculate the Aveight of all the products from ten troy 
ounces of metallic zinc treated in this Avay? 
2. Describe all the principal parts of a floAvering tree, such 
as the eucalyptus or magnolia. ? 
3. Mention the botanical source, natural order, habitat, 
and method of preparation of opium, and Socotrine aloes? 
'|)roceebin0s of ,§Dcictics. 
PHABMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTBALIA. 
Offici.\l Beports. 
A meeting of the above society Avas held at Jackman’s 
Booms, King AYilliam-street, Adelaide, on November 24th, 
1885. 
Present The President (Mr. AV. H. Harrison), the ATce- 
President (Mr. F. E. Grundy), Treasimer (Mr. H. T. Poole) 
Seci;etary (Mr. AV. J. Main), and Messrs. AVhite, Grummett, 
Braddock, Hill, Long, Badcliffe, AA^. Scammell, Porter, J. N. 
Birks. 
The minxites of the previous meeting having been read and 
confirmed, it Avas jn’ojDosed by Mr. Main, and seconded by Mr. 
Porter, that the annual subscription of members be one guinea, 
and that of associates be half a guinea. Carried. * 
Proposed by Mr. AVhite, seconded by Mr. Porter, that the 
Society ado]ot Ihe Chemint and Druggist as the organ of the 
Society, and accept the offer of the proprietors to deliver the 
same at a fixed rate }ier member jier annum. Carried. 
The rules of the Society Avere read, and, after a short dis- 
cussion, Mr. Hill 2 )Foposed and Mr. AA’hite seconded that a 
pi’inted copy of the rules be sent to each member for conside- 
ration before the next meeting of the Society, on December 
1st. 
